
The National Ag Safety Database provides a number of ways you can protect your boat and minimize damage if it is struck by lightning or is near a lightning strike. If caught in a storm in a small boat with no cabin, drop anchor and get as low as possible. Leaflet Lightning data and contributors, CC-BY-SA 4.0, Map data OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA. When inside the cabin during a lightning storm, stay away from all metal and electrical components, including the radio, unless it is an emergency. A collection of close lightning strikes and loud thunder captured in 1080i HD The audio in these clips is real and unedited, straight from the camera with no enhancement See more at. If you are unable to return to shore, boats with cabins offer some protection. Once on land, get at least 100 yards away from shore. If you are on a boat in open water when a thunderstorm rolls in, return to shore immediately and seek shelter. If you are out in the open water and a storm rolls in, return to shore immediately.If you hear thunder or see lightning, seek shelter away from the water. But the lightning we usually care about most is the lightning that goes from clouds to groundbecause that's us As the storm moves over the ground, the strong negative charge in the cloud attracts positive charges in the ground. You might hear thunder before you see lightning on a bright day. Often lightning occurs between clouds or inside a cloud. Watch for distant lightning and listen for distant thunder. Watch and listen for distant storm activity.As clouds become darker and more anvil-shaped, the storm is already in progress. Cumulus clouds can develop into thunderstorms. Once the clouds reach 30,000 feet, the thunderstorm is generally developing, and it is time to head for shore. Cumulus clouds have flat bases and dome or cauliflower shapes. Watch for the development of large, well-defined rising cumulus clouds. Short-term forecasts are quite accurate, but sometimes miss some very localized storms. Myth 7 If you touch a lightning victim, youll be electrocuted. Single-cell storms may produce brief heavy rain and lightning. Myth 6 If youre outside in a storm, lie flat on the ground. They are typically driven by heating on a summer afternoon. It is crucial to listen to weather information when you are at the beach or boating. Often called popcorn convection, single-cell thunderstorms are small, brief, weak storms that grow and die within an hour or so. Do NOT seek shelter under beach picnic shelters. Remember the phrase, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” If you hear thunder while you are at the beach, find a safe, enclosed shelter, such as your car. Do you know what to do when youre stuck on a mountain during a thunderstorm Review some key lightning safety tips.

If the forecast is for thunderstorms, plan your trip for another day. Before leaving for the beach or any water activity, such as a boating trip, check the weather forecast so you know what to expect during the day.
